Irish rally legend Rosemary Smith dies aged 86

RIP: Rosemary Smith, renowned international rally and racing driver, who has passed away. Pic: Michael Chester

Irish rally legend Rosemary Smith, 86, passed away peacefully on Tuesday at the Beacon Hospital in Dublin. 

Her motorsport career spanned decades and was an inspiration, not just to women, but to everybody involved in rallying and circuit racing.

Indeed, one of her memorable moments was just some six years ago in May 2017, at the age of 79, she became the oldest person to drive an 800bhp F1 racing car during a test drive with the Renault F1 Team at the Circuit Paul Ricard in France.

Swapping a fashion career for her love of motorsport that initially began as a co-driver, Rosemary stepped into the driver’s seat and quickly caught people’s eyes. 

She caught the attention of the Rootes Group's Competition Department, which offered her a coveted works drive.

Having won the ladies' prize at the Circuit of Ireland Rally in 1964, she made headline news the following year when co-driven by Valerie Domleo they won the four-day Dutch Tulip Rally in a factory entered Hillman Imp, her achievement was highlighted by the fact that the rally was through 1800 miles of challenging terrain. 

Controversially, she was disqualified from the Monte Carlo Rally in 1966 having won the Coupe des Dames - the ladies' class.

She was a tough, talented and popular competitor and took on her male colleagues with great aplomb winning the 1969 Cork ‘20’ Rally. She won the ladies' prize several times in events such as the Scottish Rally, the Circuit of Ireland, the Alpine Rally, the Canadian Shell 4000 and the Acropolis Rally. 

She also took part in the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon and the 1970 London to Mexico World Cup Rally.

She learned to drive at eleven years of age under the tutelage of her father and secured a driving licence at sixteen through, what was then termed, resourceful means. She wasn’t just a leader in rallying, she was also a trend setter in fashion and set up a boutique with her mother.

She showcased cars from many manufacturers including Ford, BL, Porsche, Opel, Lancia and Chrysler Talbot. In 1978 she set a then new land speed record in Cork. 

As her rally career ended she founded a driving school where aspiring young drivers learned their craft from the very best. In 2001 Rosemary Smith was inducted into the Motorsport Ireland Hall of Fame Award. 

Some five years ago she wrote her memoir, titled Driven. Last year she was inducted into FIVA ( Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens) Hall of Fame.

President of Motorsport Ireland Aiden Harper said: “It’s a sad day for Irish motorsport, Rosemary was an incredible lady with an equally incredible life in motorsport. There’s been so many accolades attributed to her and deservedly so. 

"She was a great inspiration to women competitors in Ireland and to the Motorsport Ireland Women’s Commission. Of course, she was the second person to be inducted (in 2001) to the Motorsport Ireland Hall of Fame.”